Monday, February 8, 2016SpaceX Targeting Feb 24th For Next LaunchHawthorne, California-based SpaceX, the Los Angeles area rocket launch company, looks to be targeting its next launch for February 24th, according to client SES. SES--which operates a fleet of telecommunications satellites--said it is hoping to launch its SES-9 telecommunications satellite on a SpaceX Falcon on February 24th, after delays to the SpaceX launch schedule last year due to a launch failure. The new satellite is being built locally in El Segundo at Boeing Space and Intelligence System (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 8, 2016(Full story)
Uber Driver Arrested For DUI In Simi Valley After Super BowlA few Simi Valley Uber riders may have gotten more of a ride than they expected on Sunday evening, after an Uber driver was arrested by the Simi Valley Police Department, and charged with driving under the influence. According to the department, Robert Wing, 46, of Simi Valley, was arrested after he was observed slowing down for a green light by an officer on patrol, and was found to have a .25% blood alcohol level. Wing allegedly told the officer he'd already driven two to three other fares bef (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 8, 2016(Full story)
CytRx Raises $40M Via Term LoanLos Angeles-based biopharmaceuticals developer CytRx said this morning that it has raised $40M via a long term, loan facility. The financing came from Herculus Technology Growth Capital and Hercules Technology III, L.P. The 48-month term loan has an interest rate of 9.5% per annum, subject to the variability of the prime interest rate. CytRx said it has drawn $25M in financing under the loan, and will be allowed to pull the remaining$15M after December 31st of 2016, based on clinical trial miles (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 8, 2016(Full story)
Zirx Shifts Parking Service Away From Consumer MarketOn-demand parking service Zirx is shutting down its on-demand, consumer parking service, which it had launched into Los Angeles in November of 2014, and is focusing instead on its enterprise business. The company said it the consumer business was a "very difficult business to scale" and even harder to "scale to great profitability", and that it will officially shut its consumer business on February 29th. Zirx began offering up valet parking for employees of businesses in September of 2015.
posted on Monday, February 8, 2016(Full story)
Kingston Digital Acquires IronKeyFountain Valley-based Kingston Digital said this morning that it has acquired the USB technology and assets of IronKey, from Imation Corp.. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. IronKey, which develops encrypted USB flash drives, has been part of Imation since 2011. Kingston Digital, the flash memory arm of Kingston Technology, said the acquisition will help it provide a more comprehensive portfolio of products and services to its customers. Kingston is already a major provider (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 8, 2016(Full story)
Dollar Shave Club Makes Super Bowl DebutLos Angeles-based Dollar Shave Club made its Super Bowl advertising debut on Sunday afternoon, during the Super Bowl 50 broadcast, went head to head against Schick in running advertising on the big game. Dollar Shave Club appears to have been Southern California's only startup debuting as a national Super Bowl advertiser. Advertisers during the football game spent between $4.6M and $5.0M for their spots this year. Regionally, Southern California's Honda dealers offered up an UberX ride, for free (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 8, 2016(Full story)
Glaukos Launches Sales Efforts In AustraliaLaguna Hills-based medical device maker Glaukos said this morning that it has launched direct sales in Australia of its iStent inject Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stent. According to the company, it has established a direct sales organization in the country, which has been approved by the Australian Therapeutics Goods Administration. The company's devices are used for treating glaucoma.
posted on Monday, February 8, 2016(Full story)
Soraa Deploys LED Lighting In TaiwanGallium nitride LED technology developer Soraa, which has an R&D center in Goleta, has deployed its lighting technology in Taipei, Taiwan, at a high end boxing center. Soraa said its LED lamps were installed at the Boxing Plus Wellness Center in Taipei, to help light the interior of the facility. Financial impact of the win were not disclosed. Soraa is a spinout of UB Santa Barbara, and is developing highly efficient LED lamps.
posted on Monday, February 8, 2016(Full story)